IBPS SO Law Officer Recruitment 2026-27: 56 Vacancies

The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) has announced its Common Recruitment Process (CRP SPL-XV) for the recruitment of Specialist Officers (SO) for vacancies in 2026-27. This is a significant opportunity for legal professionals, particularly for the Law Officer (Scale I) position, which plays a crucial role within the banking sector.

This blog post will guide you through the essential details for the Law Officer (Scale I) role, ensuring you have all the information needed to prepare your application effectively.

Understanding the IBPS Specialist Officer Program

The IBPS SO recruitment process is a two-tier online examination (Preliminary and Main), followed by a Common Interview. Candidates who qualify in both online examinations are shortlisted for the interview. The final provisional allotment to one of the Participating Public Sector Banks is based on merit, considering government guidelines on reservation policy and administrative exigencies. The validity of CRP-SPL-XV will generally expire one year after the date of Provisional Allotment or until a fresh provisional allotment is made, whichever is earlier.

The participating banks include Bank of Baroda, Bank of India, Bank of Maharashtra, Canara Bank, Central Bank of India, Indian Bank, Indian Overseas Bank, Punjab National Bank, Punjab & Sind Bank, UCO Bank, and Union Bank of India.

Law Officer (Scale I) Vacancy Highlights

For legal professionals, the Law Officer (Scale I) position offers a challenging and rewarding career path within the banking industry.

• Total Vacancies: There are a total of 56 indicative vacancies for the Law Officer (Scale I) post across various participating banks.
  • Bank of India: 1 (UR)
  • Bank of Maharashtra: 30 (SC: 4, ST: 2, OBC: 8, EWS: 3, UR: 13)
  • Central Bank of India: 25 (SC: 3, ST: 1, OBC: 6, EWS: 2, UR: 13)
• Remuneration: Specialist Officers – Scale I are placed in the Basic Pay of ₹48,480/-. Additionally, selected officers will be eligible for allowances and perquisites as per the rules of the Participating Bank in force from time to time.

Essential Eligibility Criteria for Law Officer (Scale I)

To be eligible for the Law Officer (Scale I) position, candidates must meet specific criteria regarding nationality, age, and educational qualifications as of the stipulated dates.

• Nationality / Citizenship: Applicants must be either a Citizen of India, a subject of Nepal or Bhutan, a Tibetan Refugee who arrived before January 1, 1962, or a Person of Indian Origin who migrated from specific East African and Asian countries with the intention of permanent settlement in India, provided they hold a certificate of eligibility issued by the Government of India.
• Age Limit (as on 01.07.2025):
  • Minimum Age: 20 years.
  • Maximum Age: 30 years.
  • This means a candidate must have been born not earlier than July 2, 1995, and not later than July 1, 2005 (both dates inclusive).
  • Age Relaxation: Upper age limit relaxation is provided for various categories:
    • Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe: 5 years
    • Other Backward Classes (Non-creamy layer): 3 years
    • Persons With Benchmark Disability: 10 years
    • Ex-Servicemen: 5 years (subject to Government guidelines and conditions). Note that there is no reservation for Ex-servicemen in Officers’ Cadre, but age relaxation applies.
• Educational Qualifications (as on 21.07.2025):
  • A Bachelor Degree in Law (LL.B) and enrolment as an advocate with the Bar Council is mandatory.
  • All educational qualifications must be from a University/Institution/Board recognized by the Government of India or approved by Government Regulatory Bodies. The final result for the essential qualification must have been declared on or before July 21, 2025.
  • Equivalent educational qualifications will not be considered eligible by IBPS or Participating Banks.
  • Candidates must have a Certificate/Diploma/Degree in computer operations/Language or have studied Computer/Information Technology as one of the subjects in High School/College/Institute.

IBPS SO Application Process: Important Dates & Fees

Understanding the timeline and application fees is crucial for a smooth application process.

• Application Period: Online registration and payment of application fees/intimation charges will be from July 01, 2025, to July 21, 2025 (both dates inclusive).
• Application Fee:
  • For SC/ST/PwBD candidates: ₹175/- (inclusive of GST).
  • For all other candidates: ₹850/- (inclusive of GST).
  • Bank Transaction charges for online payment must be borne by the candidate.
• How to Apply: Candidates must apply online through the official IBPS website: www.ibps.in. No other mode of application will be accepted. It is advised to apply well before the closing date to avoid last-minute issues.
• Documents to Upload: During the online application, candidates must upload scanned images of their photograph, signature, left thumb impression, a handwritten declaration, and their SSC/SSLC/10th standard certificate. Additionally, a live photograph must be captured and uploaded through a webcam or mobile phone during registration.

IBPS Law Officer Selection Process: Exams & Interview

The selection for the Law Officer (Scale I) position involves a structured examination process designed to assess a candidate’s aptitude and professional knowledge.

• Online Preliminary Examination (August, 2025):
  • This is a 2-hour examination consisting of 150 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) for a total of 125 marks.
  • Test Sections:
    • English Language: 50 Questions, 25 Marks, English Medium, 40 minutes.
    • Reasoning: 50 Questions, 50 Marks, English and Hindi Medium, 40 minutes.
    • General Awareness with Special Reference to Banking Industry: 50 Questions, 50 Marks, English and Hindi Medium, 40 minutes.
  • Candidates must qualify in each of the three tests by securing minimum cut-off marks decided by IBPS. An adequate number of candidates will be shortlisted for the Online Main Examination.
• Online Main Examination (November, 2025):
  • Shortlisted candidates from the Preliminary exam proceed to the Main exam.
  • This exam focuses solely on Professional Knowledge.
  • Test Section: Professional Knowledge: 60 Questions, 60 Marks, English & Hindi Medium, 45 minutes.
  • Important Note: Only marks obtained in the Online Main Examination will be considered for shortlisting for the Interview and for the final merit list.
• Penalty for Wrong Answers: In both Preliminary and Main online examinations, there will be a penalty for wrong answers. One-fourth (0.25) of the marks assigned to a question will be deducted for every incorrect answer. No penalty for unanswered questions.
• Interview (December, 2025 / January, 2026):
  • Candidates shortlisted from the Online Main Examination will be called for an interview conducted by the Participating Banks, coordinated by the Nodal Banks with IBPS’s help.
  • Total marks allotted for the Interview are 100.
  • The minimum qualifying marks in the interview will be not less than 40% (35% for SC/ST/OBC/PwBD candidates).
  • The final merit list will be prepared based on the combined score of the Online Main Examination and the Interview, with a relative weightage (ratio) of 80:20 respectively. Candidates must qualify in both the Main Examination and the Interview to be considered for provisional allotment.
• Provisional Allotment (January/February, 2026):
  • Based on merit-cum-preference and actual vacancies reported by Participating Banks, qualified candidates will be provisionally allotted to one of the banks.
  • In case of a tie in scores, the candidate senior in age will be placed higher.
  • Provisional allotment is subject to fulfilling the bank’s criteria and identity verification.

Crucial Documents for Verification & Interview

Candidates must be ready with original and self-attested photocopies of several documents at the time of interview/document verification. Failure to produce required documents will lead to cancellation of candidature.

• Valid Interview Call Letter printout.
• Valid system-generated printout of the online application form.
• Proof of Date of Birth (Matriculation/10th Standard certificate or Birth Certificate).
• Photo Identity Proof (as specified in the notification, e.g., PAN Card, Passport, Aadhaar Card).
• Mark sheets and certificates for all educational qualifications.
• Caste Certificate (SC/ST/OBC) in prescribed format (OBC-NCL certificate issued on or after April 1, 2025, and valid till the interview date).
• Income and Asset Certificate for EWS category candidates in the prescribed format.
• Disability certificate in the prescribed format for PwBD candidates.
• Copy of Service/Discharge book along with pension payment order and proof of rank for Ex-servicemen (if applicable).
• “No Objection Certificate” (NOC) in original from current employer if serving in Government/quasi-govt. offices/PSUs/Banks.
• Experience certificates (if applicable).
• Certificate of eligibility issued by Govt. of India for candidates of categories (ii), (iii), (iv), and (v) of Nationality criteria.

All documents will be subject to verification by the issuing authority.

Important Information at a Glance: Law Officer (Scale I)

Official Notification

Click Here for the Official Notification.